Let us all honor and remember our veterans every day not just on Veterans’ Day. I want to bring awareness of how important it is for us all to respect and honor our United States military veterans. My father, Wayne Higgins, served in the U.S. Air Force in Japan during the Vietnam War. Growing up he didn’t talk much about his service but now he’s attended reunions and shares stories with us. I am proud to be a daughter of a military veteran.

Back in 2007 I met a wonderful veteran, Russ Freeburg. He served in the Vietnam War as a dog handler. He was delivering posters for the Traveling Vietnam War Monument that was in Marshall that year. I recognized his name and asked him about his family history. His father, Harry, had grown up outside of Walnut Grove and had served in World War II and at the time his son, Matthew, was in the Marines. Our conversation led me to start seeking out more of the Walnut Grove area veterans’ photographs and stories. When the Veterans’ exhibit opened at the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum (LIW Museum) in 2008 we had collected over 120 military veterans’ photographs. Troy Krause, of the Redwood Gazette, came to Walnut Grove and interviewed three local veterans, Emil Bannick, WWII U.S. Army veteran, Don Johnson, Korean War U.S. Army veteran and Jack Van Gelderen, Vietnam U.S. Marines veteran. These three men served their country and were willing to talk about their service. It was a very enlightening event. The exhibit continued to grow. I remember when Gordy Pederson, Redwood Falls resident originally from rural Walnut Grove, stopped by the museum to donate his uniform and his brother’s scrapbook. He was so proud that the Museum wanted ‘his old stuff’. The local veterans were proud the Museum took an interest in their stories. Through these kind of projects communities are brought together. Other organizations could get involved by interviewing veterans and sharing their stories with historical societies and libraries.

Here at the Renville County Historical Society (RCHS) in Morton, we continue to preserve our military veterans’ histories, their stories and of course their photographs. Currently RCHS has been gathering World War 1 photographs, artifacts and letters. These items have been added to our permanent files and are on exhibit until 2019. The upcoming exhibit, Renville County in World War 1: 1918 will have the stories of the soldiers we lost that year, the war effort through various organizations and of course photographs of those who served that year. If you have a World War 1 connection please be sure to contact your local historical society and share this history. World War 1 is the forgotten war by many because it happened so long ago. Let us honor these soldiers by remembering they had families, hopes and dreams. Renville County lost 69 soldiers in World War 1. The returning soldiers came back different men. The Olivia Times printed the book Renville County in World War 1: 1917, 1918, 1919 in 1920. This book is a good record of the soldiers, nurses and organizations that served and assisted in World War 1. Stop by the Museum to check it out. Currently RCHS is working with the Renville County Genealogical Society (RCGS) to revamp the book. We are gathering as much information on the men and women who served and will be putting together a new book that we hope will be available at the 2019 Renville County Fair.

Just because it is the anniversary of World War 1 doesn’t mean historical societies have stopped collecting other veterans’ items. If you are currently or have in the past served in the military please contact your local historical society and share your information. It is imperative that not only the past veterans be remembered but the current and future ones as well. We do not want any forgotten veterans. Historical Societies do not just preserve the past but they preserve yesterday and tomorrow. We have binders of Renville County veterans in the Research Library along with many artifacts donated over the years of other Renville County veterans.

I had the wonderful opportunity to work with U.S. Navy Korean War veteran Wilbur Oberg during my time at the LIW Museum. He was very proud of his service and was part of the Walnut Grove American Legion. He passed away on July 17, 2013, I miss him to this day. I have been blessed again to work with another U.S. Navy Vietnam War veteran, Dick Roper. He grew up in the Beaver Falls/Morton area and has taught me a lot of this area’s history. He is a great friend and I enjoy seeing him at work and socializing with him. I must be meant to hang around Navy guys.

Let us all honor and respect our military veterans every day and remember to carry on their stories. I have met so many veterans I couldn’t list them all here in this article. I do want to send out a personal thank you to military veterans for their service and all they have done and continue to do for the United States of America.

If you have Renville County military connections either personally or through your family please contact the Renville County Historical Society. Museum Hours for the Winter: Monday – Friday 10 AM – 4 PM to make an appointment outside of the posted hours please call 507-697-6147. You can also reach the Museum via email info@renvillecountyhistory.com and or go to ‘Share Your Story’ page on this website. Be sure to LIKE us on FACEBOOK or FOLLOW us on TWITTER to keep up with our events.

RCHS has two events honoring our veterans each year, the Veterans Round Table on the Museum Grounds on the 4th of July at 1 PM and the Patriotic Pancake Breakfast that takes place the Saturday after Labor Day 9 AM-11AM Free Will Donations accepted at both events and proceeds shared equally with RCHS and the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon of Renville County. RCHS also holds a Patriotic Sing-a-Long on the 4th of July in St. John’s Church on the Museum Grounds at 7 PM.

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Poems of American Patriotism by Brander Matthews published by Charles Schrbner’s Sons 1899

The book, Poems of American Patriotism, is from the Renville County Historical Society’s collection. The book is from Renville County District # 117 which was located in Kingman Township in Section 18.

Excerpt from the book Pg 21 – 24: Ticonderoga

TICONDEROGA by V.B. Wilson

May 10, 1775: After the new of Concord fight, a volunteer expedition from Vermont and Connecticut, under Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold, seized Ticonderoga and Crown Point, whose military stores were of great service. From its chime of bells, the French call Ticonderoga ‘Carillon.’

The cold, gray light of the dawning
On old Carillon falls,
And dim in the mist of the morning
Stand the grim old fortress walls.
No sound disturbs the stillness
Save the cataract’s mellow roar,
Silent as death is the fortress,
Silent the misty shore.

But up from the wakening waters
Comes the cool, fresh morning breeze,
Lifting the banner of Britain,
And whispering to the trees
Of the swift gliding boats on the waters
That are nearing the fog-shrouded land,
With the old Green Mountain Lion
And his daring patriot band.

But the sentinel at the postern,
Heard not the whisper low;
He is dreaming of the banks of the Shannon
As he walks on his beat to and fro,
Of the starry eye in Green Erin
That were dim when he marched away,
And a tear down his bronzed cheek courses,
‘T is the first for many a day.

A sound breaks the misty stillness,
And quickly he glances around;
Through the mist, forms like towering giants
Seem rising out of the ground;
A challenge, the firelock flashes,
A sword cleaves the quivering air,
And the sentry lies dead by the postern,
Blood staining his bright yellow hair.

Then, with a shout that awakens
All the echoes of hillside and glen,
Through the low, frowning gate of the fortress,
Sword in hand, rush the Green Mountain men.
The scarce wakened troops of the garrison
Yield up their trust pale with fear;
And down comes the bright British banner,
And out rings a Green Mountain Cheer.

Flushed with pride, the whole eastern heavens
With crimson and gold are ablaze;
And up springs the sun in his splendor
And flings down his arrowy rays,
Bathing in sunlight the fortress,
Turning to gold the grim walls,
While louder and clearer and higher
Rings the song of the waterfalls.
Since the taking of Ticonderoga,
A century has rolled away;
But with pride the nation remember
That glorious morning in May.

And the cataract’s silvery music
Forever the story tells,
Of the capture of Old Carillon,
The chime of the silver bells.

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Poems of American Patriotism Chosen by Brander Matthews published by Charles Scribner’s Sons 1899

The book, Poems of American Patriotism, is from the Renville County Historical Society’s collection. The book is from Renville County District # 117 which was located in Kingman Township in Section 18.

Excerpt from pages 19-20, This poem was written to be sung at the completion of the Concord Monument, April 19, 1836 (date written in the book, July 4, 1837 is when it happened).

HYMN by Ralph Waldo Emerson

By the rude bridge that arched the flood,
Their flag to April’s breeze unfurled,

Here once the embattled farmers stood,
And fired the shot heard round the world.

The foe long since in silence slept;
Alike the conqueror silent sleeps;

And Time the ruined bridge has slept;
Down the dark stream which seaward creeps

On this green bank, by this soft stream,
We set to-day a votive stone,

That memory may their deed redeem,
When, like our sires, our sons are gone.

Spirit, that made those heroes dare
To die, or leave their children free,

Bid Time and Nature gently spare
The shaft we raise to them and thee.

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This book was found in the collection in our Country Schoolhouse District 36 located on the Museum Grounds. The book was originally from Renville County School District 109 which was located in Wellington Township Section 9.

Careers of Danger and Daring include: The Steeple Climber, The Deep Sea Diver, The Balloonist, The Pilot (Ocean & River), The Bridge Builder, The City Fireman, The Aerial Acrobat, The Wild Beast Tamer, The Dynamite Worker and The Locomotive Engineer. There are four-five stories under each heading about the career including photographs and illustrations.

If you would like to read some of the stories in this book please stop by the Renville County Historical Society Monday-Friday 10 AM – 4 PM, admission is $5 (FREE for Members)!

RCHS has an impressive Research Library that covers Renville County, the Dakota War and much more. Stop by and check it out today!

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I called my mom the other day and asked her why they allowed me to continue be a left-handed writer. Her response, “Because that was what you are.” In my family, it was only myself and my Aunt Norma who were the left-handed odd ones out. If memory serves I believe I was always allowed to sit at the corner of the table to avoid elbow issues.

I have been told many times over the years that if your teacher noticed you were left-handed they would insist on changing you to right-handed. I was also told this happened continuously even into the 1950s. Last week we had a gentleman from Olivia researching the grand marshals of the Corn Capital Days in the Research Library. When I glanced over, he was writing with his left-hand. I smiled and commented, “There are three left-handed people in the research library today.” Dick Roper, my co-worker is also left-handed. About two weeks ago I noticed the Renville County Historical Society’s board secretary, Marcia Dworshak was also left-handed. What I found unusual about these sightings was the three left-handers were all over 65 years old. When I asked if their teachers or parents ever tried to change their hand-writing habits only one said yes but after school he went back to using his left hand.

When I walk into a room I am always curious as to how many other left-handers are nearby. I am very proud left-handed person and tend to notice others. It surprised me that 8 of the 15-people attending a Westbrook Library Book Club meeting a few years ago were left-handed. (added note 5 of the attendees as the last Renville County Historical Society’s April board meeting were left-handed.)

I asked a few people what they thought was hardest about being left-handed and the top three answers were trying to arrange where you sit when you eat with a group of right-handed people, writing with pencils is messy and a spiral of a notebook makes it difficult to write.

“Can I borrow your scissors?” 5 out of 6 times when I asked this question at various locations the scissors were molded for a right-handed person. I can’t use right-handed scissors with my right-hand but have taught myself to use my left-hand. This goes with manual can openers, curling irons and computer keyboards. To avoid the spiral notebook issue I use a legal pad. Left-handers only make up about 10 percent of the world’s population which doesn’t make it surprising that most gadgets are made to be right-hand operated.

I think we should start a left-handed club! If interested stop on by the Renville County Historical Society in Morton, Minnesota. The Keurig is always on! The Museum is open September – May: Monday – Friday 10 AM – 4 PM CLOSED MEMORIAL DAY and June-August: Monday – Saturday 10 AM – 4 PM extended hours on 4th of July. Call 507.697.6147 to make an appoint outside our posted hours or email info@renvillecountyhistory.com . Visit our website www.renvillecountyhistory.com and be sure to LIKE us on Facebook @RCHSMuseum, FOLLOW us on Twitter @RenvilleCoMNHis

Note from author: I keep seeking out left-handed people. Sitting in a presentation at the Minnesota Alliance of Local History Museum‘s Spring Conference out of the 50 people in the room only 4 of use were left-handed. If you are left-handed drop me an email and share your left-handed stories director@renvillecountyhistory,com my curiosity on left-handedness continues!